Ever since the dawn of mankind, we have sought to understand nature and our place in it.

In this quest for the purpose of life many people have turned to religion. Most religions are based on books claimed by their followers to be divinely inspired, without any proof. Islam is different because it is based upon reason and proof.

There are clear signs that the book of Islam, the Quran, is the word of God and we have many reasons to support this claim:

· There are scientific and historical facts found in the Quran which were unknown to the people at the time, and have only been discovered recently by contemporary science.

· The Quran is in a unique style of language that cannot be replicated, this is known as the ‘Inimitability of the Quran.’

· There are prophecies made in the Quran and by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) which have come to be pass.

The following are some facts found in the Quran:

1. Origin of Life

Water is essential for all living things. We all know that water is vital to life but the Quran makes a very unusual claim:

{We made every living thing from water. Will they not believe?} (Quran 21:30)

In this verse water is pointed out as the origin of all life. All living things are made of cells. We now know that cells are mostly made up of water[1]. For example, 80% of the cytoplasm (basic cell material) of a standard animal cell is described as water in biology textbooks.

The fact that living things consist mostly of water was discovered only after the invention of the microscope. In the deserts of Arabia, the last thing someone would have guessed is that all life came from water.

2. Iron

Iron is not natural to the earth. It did not form on the earth but came down to earth from outer space. This may sound strange but it’s true. Scientists have found that billions of years ago the earth was stuck by meteorites. These meteorites were carrying Iron from distant stars which had exploded.[2]

The Quran says the following on the origin of Iron:

{We sent down Iron with its great inherent strength and its many benefits for humankind.} (Quran 57:25)

God uses the words ‘sent down’ for Iron. It is clear from the verse that Iron is not an earthly material, but was sent down for the benefit of humanity. The fact that Iron came down to earth from outer space is something which could not be known by the primitive science of the 7th century.

3. Sky’s Protection

The sky plays a crucial role in protecting the earth. The sky protects the earth from the lethal rays of the sun. If the sky did not exist then the sun’s radiation would have killed off all life on earth. It also acts like a blanket wrapped around the earth, to protect it from the freezing cold of space.

The temperature just above the sky is approximately -270oC. If this temperature was to reach earth then the planet would freeze over instantly. The sky also protects life on earth by warming the surface through heat retention (greenhouse effect), and reducing temperature extremes between day and night[3]. These are some of the many protective functions of the sky.

The Quran asks us to consider the sky in the following verse:

{We made the sky a protective ceiling. And yet they are turning away from Our signs!} (Quran 21:32)

The Quran points to the sky’s protection as a sign of God. The protective properties of the sky were discovered by scientific research conducted in the 20th century.

4. Mountains

The Quran draws our attention to a very important characteristic of mountains:

{Did We not make the earth a resting place? And the mountains as stakes?} (Quran 78:6-7)

The Quran indicates that mountains have deep roots by using the word stakes to describe them. In fact mountains do have deep roots, and the word stakes is an accurate description for them.

A book titled ‘Earth’ by Geophysicist Frank Press explains that mountains are like stakes, and are buried deep under the surface of the earth. Mount Everest (pictured below), the height of which is approximately 9 km above ground, has a root deeper than 125 km.

The fact that mountains have deep ‘stake’ like roots was not known, until after the development of the theory of plate tectonics in the beginning of the 20th century.[6]

5. Expansion of the Universe

At a time when the science of Astronomy was still primitive, the expansion of the universe was described in Quran:

{And it is We who have built the Universe with [Our creative] power and keep expanding it.} (Quran 51:47)

The fact that the universe is expanding was discovered in the last century. The physicist Stephen Hawking in his book ‘A Brief History of Time’ writes, “The discovery that the universe is expanding was one of the great intellectual revolutions of the 20th century.”.[4]

The Quran mentioned the expansion of the universe even before the invention of the telescope!

6. Sun’s Orbit

In 1512 the astronomer Nicholas Copernicus put forward his theory that the Sun is motionless at the centre of the solar system, and that the planets revolve around it. The belief that the Sun is stationary was widespread amongst astronomers until the 20th century. It is now a well-established scientific fact that the Sun is not stationary, but is moving in an orbit around the centre of our Milky Way galaxy[5].

The Quran mentions the orbit of the Sun:

{It is He who created night and day, the Sun and the Moon, each floating in its orbit.} (Quran 21:33)

The Quran would have been wrong according to astronomers just a couple of decades ago. But we now know that the Quranic account of the Sun’s motion is consistent with modern Astronomy.

7. The Ocean

The Quran uses imagery to covey its deep meanings, here it describes the state of the unbelievers as:

{Darkness out in a deep ocean which is covered by waves, above which are waves, above which are clouds, layers of darkness, one upon the other. When one puts out his hand [therein], he can hardly see it. Those God gives no light to, they have no light.} (Quran 24:40)

It is commonly thought that waves only occur on the surface of the ocean. However oceanographers have discovered that there are internal waves that take place below the surface of the ocean. These waves are invisible to the human eye, and can only be detected by specialist equipment[6].

The Quran mentions darkness in a deep ocean above which are waves, above which are waves, then clouds above that. This description is not only remarkable because it describes the internal waves in the ocean, but also because it describes darkness deep in the ocean.

A human being can dive no more than 70 metres without breathing equipment. Light is present at that depth, but if we go down 1000 metres it is completely dark[7]. 1400 years ago there were no submarines or specialist equipment to discover internal waves or the darkness deep inside the oceans.

8. Lying and Movement

There was a cruel oppressive tribal leader named Abu Jahl who lived during the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). God revealed a verse of the Quran to warn him:

{No Indeed! If he does not stop, We will seize him by the forehead, his lying, sinful forehead.} (Quran 96:15-16)

God does not call this person a liar, but calls his forehead (the front part of the brain) ‘lying’ and ‘sinful’, and warns him to stop.

This verse is significant for two reasons. The first is that the front part of our brain is responsible for voluntary movement[8]. This is known as the frontal lobe.

A book titled ‘Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology’ which includes the results of research on the functions of this area states: The motivation and the foresight to plan and initiate movements occur in the anterior portion of the frontal lobes, the prefrontal area[9]. The part of the brain that is responsible for movement is said to be seized if the man does not stop.

Secondly, numerous studies have shown that this same region (frontal lobe) is responsible for the lying function of the brain[10]. One such study at the University of Pennsylvania in which volunteers were asked questions during a computerized interrogation, it was found that when the volunteers were lying there was significantly increased activity in the prefrontal and premotor cortices (frontal lobe region)[11].

The front part of the brain is responsible for movement and lying. The Quran links movement and lying to this area. These functions of the frontal lobe were discovered with medical imaging equipment which was developed in the 20th century.

9. Pain Receptors

For a long time it was thought that the sense of feeling and pain was dependent on the brain. However it has been discovered that there are pain receptors present in the skin[12]. Without these pain receptors, a person would not be able to feel pain.

Consider the following verse on pain:

{We shall send those who reject Our revelations to the (Hell) Fire. When their skins have been burned away, We shall replace them with new ones so that they may continue to feel the pain: God is Almighty, All-Wise.} (Quran 4:56)

God tells the people who reject his message that when they are in Hell and their skins are burnt off (so they can’t feel any pain), he will give them new skins so that they continue to feel the pain.

The Quran makes it clear that pain is dependent upon on the skin. The discovery of pain receptors in the skin is a fairly recent discovery for Biology.

Conclusion

These are just some of the many facts found in the Quran. It is important to note that the Quran is not a book of science, but that it is consistent with science. To claim that scientific facts in the Quran are due to coincidence would be irrational. The best explanation is that God revealed this knowledge to the Prophet Muhammad.

Just like the Quran contains knowledge about the natural world, it also contains information about the inner dimensions of our souls. It relates to our feelings, wants and needs. The Quran informs us that we have a purpose in life, and that following God’s guidance will lead us to inner peace in this life, and Paradise in the hereafter. And that rejection of his message will lead to depression in this life and Hellfire after death.

{We shall show them Our signs in the Universe and within themselves, until it becomes clear to them that this is the Truth. Is it not enough that your Lord is the witness of all things?} (Quran 41:53)

Abridged from onereason.org.

[1] Bruce Alberts, Essential Cell Biology

[2] M. E. Walrath, History of the Earth’s Formation

[3] Joseph M. Moran, Meteorology: the Atmosphere and the Science of Weather

[4] Naomi Oreskes, Plate Tectonics: An Insider’s History Of The Modern Theory Of The Earth [10] Stephen Hawking, A Brief History Of Time

Since the impeachment of the South Korean president, a lot of the leader’s confidantes have been held up in jail for questioning, one of them being the high-profile Samsung chief who is a multi-billionaire.

The third-generation Samsung heir is now stuck in jail in a small 71-square-foot detention cell with a toilet in the corner behind a partition.

He, along with other members of President Park Geun-Hye’s team, was arrested this week on corruption charges for which they have all pleaded not guilty.

Apart from that, there is a strict order for Jay Lee to be held in solitary confinement, to avoid irrelevant contact with other prison inmates involved in the impeachment.

Jay Lee is one of the richest people in South Korea. With a wealth of $6.2 billion, Lee resides in his modest $4 million mansion in Seoul and heads the Samsung consumer electronics group.How much ever wealth you may amass, you cannot fight the big hands of the law.

Despite that, no special treatment will be given to him and he will be given simple meals worth 1,443 won or $1.26, usually rice with side dishes.

Scary how close we are to it already, read it
all and remind the heart. I found these online.
Please clarify if they are authentic.
1. Time will pass rapidly. [Bukhari, Muslim, &
Ahmad]
2. Good deeds will decrease. [Bukhari]
3. People will become miserly. [Bukhari]
4. There will be much killing and murder.
[Bukhari, Muslim, Ibn Majah, & Ahmad]
5. Power and authority will be given to wrong
people. [Bukhari]
6. Honesty will be lost. [Bukhari]
7. The disappearance of knowledge and the
appearance of ignorance [Bukhari, Muslim,
Ibn Majah, & Ahmad]
8. A mountain of gold will be disclosed from
beneath the River Euphrates, but we are
not to take anything from it.
9. The appearance of 30 false messengers.
[Bukhari]
10. Two large groups, adhering to the same
religious teaching, will fight each other with
large numbers of casualties. [Bukhari &
Muslim]
11. Earthquakes will increase [Bukhari &
Muslim]
12. Wealth will be in abundance, to the extent
that it will be difficult to find someone in
need of Zakat. [Bukhari]
13. When people begin to compete with others
in the construction of taller buildings.
[Bukhari]
14. A man will pass by a grave and wish that
he was in their place. [Bukhari]
15. The conquest of Constantinople by the
Muslims. [Ahmad, Muslim]
16. Stones and trees will help the Muslims
fight against the Jews.
17. The consumption of intoxicants will be
widespread. [Bukhari & Muslim]
18. Adultery and fornication will be prevalent.
[Bukhari, Muslim, Ibn Majah]
19. Women will outnumber men, eventually the
ratio will be 50 women to 1 man. [Bukhari,
Muslim, & Ahmad]
20. People will strive for power about mosques.
21. Adultery and fornication will be prevalent.
[Bukhari, Muslim, Ibn Majah]
22. People will cheat with goods. [Ibn Majah]
23. Paying Zakat becomes a burden and
miserliness becomes widespread; charity is
given reluctantly. [Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah]
24. Leaders will not rule according to the
Commands of Allah.
25. Only the rich receive a share of any gains,
and the poor do not. [Tirmidhi]
26. The leader of a people will be the worst of
them. [Tirmidhi]
27. A trust is used to make a profit. [Tirmidhi]
28. When a man obeys his wife and disobeys
his mother; and treats his friend kindly
while shunning his father. [Tirmidhi]
29. When voices are raised in the mosques.
[Tirmidhi]
30. People will treat a man with respect out of
fear for some evil he might do. [Tirmidhi]
31. Men will begin to wear silk. [Tirmidhi]
32. Female singers and musical instruments
will become popular. [Tirmidhi]
33. When the last ones of the Ummah begin to
curse the first ones. [Tirmidhi]
34. The nations of the Earth will gather against
the Muslims like hungry people going to sit
at a table full of food. This will occur when
the Muslims are large in number, but “like
the foam of the sea”.
35. The Muslim conquest of Jerusalem.
[Bukhari]
36. A great plague will spread over the land –
may be in reference to the plague of
Amwas during the Caliphate of Hazrat
Umar ibn al-Khattab. [Bukhari]
37. Wealth will increase so much so that if a
man were given 10,000, he would not be
content with it. [Ahmad & Bukhari]
38. A trial will arise in Arabia which will not
spare a single household. [Ahmad &
Bukhari]
39. A treaty will be made between the Muslims
and the Westerners – which they will
breach with an army of 12,000 soldiers
under 80 banners. [Bukhari]
40. Books/writing will be widespread and
(religious) knowledge will be low. [Ahmad]
41. People will beat others with whips like the
tails of oxen – this may be in reference to
the slave trade. [Muslim]
42. Children will be filled with rage. [at-
Tabarani, al-Hakim]
43. Children will be foul. [at-Tabarani, al-
Hakim]
44. Women will conspire. [at-Tabarani, al-
Hakim[
45. Rain will be acidic or burning – reference to
acid rain. [at-Tabarani, al-Hakim]
46. Children of fornication will become
widespread or prevalent. [at-Tabarani, al-
Hakim]
47. When a trust becomes a means of making
a profit. [Tirmidhi, Al-Haythami]
48. Episodes of sudden death will become
widespread. [Ahmad]
49. There will be people who will be brethren in
public, but enemies in secret. (When asked
how that would come about, he replied,
“Because they will have ulterior motives in
their mutual dealings, and at the same time
they will fear one another.”) [Tirmidhi]
50. People will walk in the marketplace with
their thighs exposed.
51. Great distances will be traversed in short
spans of time – reference to vehicles,
aeroplanes.
52. The people of Iraq will recieve no food and
no money due to oppression by the
Romans (Europeans). [Muslim]
53. People will hop between the clouds and the
earth.
54. When singers become common. [Al-
Haythami]
55. People will dance late into the night.
56. People will claim to follow the Qur’an but
will reject Hadith & Sunnah. [Abu Dawood]
57. People will believe in the stars. [Al-
Haythami]
58. People will reject al-Qadr (the Divine
Decree of Destiny). [Al-Haythami]
59. Smog will appear over cities because of the
evil that they are doing.
60. People will be carrying on with their trade,
but there will only be a few trustworthy
persons.
61. There will be attempts to make the deserts
green.
62. Women will be naked in spite of being
dressed, these women will be led astray &
will lead others astray. [Muslim]
63. The conquest of India by the Muslims, just
prior to the return of Prophet Jesus, son of
Mary. [Ahmad, an-Nisa’i, Tabarani, al-
Hakim]
64. There will be a special greeting for the
people of distinction. [Ahmad]
65. Wild animals will be able to talk to
humans. [Ahmad]
66. A man will leave his home and his thigh or
hip will tell him what is happening back at
his home. [Ahmad]
67. Years of deceit in which the truthful person
will not be believed and the liar will be
believed. [Ahmad]
68. Bearing false witness will become
widespread. [Al-Haythami & Ahmad]
69. When men lie with men, and women lie
with women. [Al-Haythami]
70. Trade will become so widespread that a
woman will be forced to help her husband
in business. [Ahmad]
71. A woman will enter the workforce out of
love for this world. [Ahmad]
72. Arrogance will increase in the earth.
[Tabarani, al-Hakim]
73. Family ties will be cut. [Ahmad]
74. There will be many women of child-bearing
age who will no longer give birth.
75. There will be an abundance of food, much
of which has no blessing in it.
76. People will refuse when offered food.
77. Men will begin to look like women and
women will begin to look like men